Today marks the second meeting in Istanbul between U.S. and Russian delegations to discuss normalization of operations in their respective diplomatic missions. The meeting is to be attended by Russian Ambassador to the United States Aleksandr Darchiyev and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters on April 8th that there would be no political or security issues discussed at the meeting, and stressed that the war in Ukraine would “absolutely not” be on the agenda:

“These talks are solely focused on our embassy operations, not on normalizing a bilateral relationship overall, which can only happen, as we’ve noted, once there’s peace between Russia and Ukraine.” [RFE/RL, April 9, 2025.]

And my question is: Why bother?

If this meeting is strictly about returning our embassies to full operational status . . . while overall normalization of relations depends first and foremost on a lasting peace in Ukraine . . . then this trip to Istanbul is nothing more than an opportunity to partake of some good Turkish food.

Because back in Ukraine, Russian assaults at the front have heated up to the point where, according to Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi:

“For several days, almost a week, we have been observing almost a doubling of the number of enemy attacks in all main directions [on the frontline].” [Reuters, April 9, 2025.]

In addition to the recent massacre of civilians, including nine children, at Kryvyi Rih, a Russian offensive has begun in the regions of Kharkiv and Sumy. And Russian troops are said to be close to pushing Ukrainian forces out of the area Ukraine has occupied in the Kursk region (across the border from Sumy) since last August. [Id.]

Could it be any more obvious that Vladimir Putin has no intention of bringing this devastating war of attrition to an end in the near future? His endless stalling of negotiations, constantly changing or adding to his demands, are an undisguised ploy to allow him time to gain more and more territory that he will then claim as his own, all the while weakening Ukraine’s bargaining position.

So the diplomats might just as well have saved themselves the trouble and expense. I hope they at least enjoyed the lunch.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
4/10/25